Thurston to lead Kangaroos in ceremony

Oct 24, 2017 - 8:00 AM Injury may have prematurely forced him into representative retirement, but Johnathan Thurston will complete a Rugby League World Cup dream two years in the making on Friday.

Thurston will lead a pre-game ceremony performed by the team at AAMI Park after players decided to proceed with the historic concept on Tuesday.

It is expected Thurston will join captain Cameron Smith in a team huddle before kickoff, where the North Queensland star will then deliver a short address.

Thurston said the idea began to take off after discussions with coach Mal Meninga this year to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of their last war cry on a 1967 tour in Europe.

"The Anzac Test at the start of the year, Mal wanted to have a discussion about doing something for the World Cup," Thurston said.

"All the boys had a really healthy discussion about what we wanted to do, we just didn't know why or what it was going to be.

"After that I went home, obviously I was injured for a while. I was back and forth with Mal and I wrote something down and I sent it through to Mal. He loved it.

"It was about the chevron, the coat of arms, the acknowledgement to country and also what we're trying to do with the RISE campaign, which is respect, inspire, selfless and excellence."

Meninga said the performance would also be used to welcome competing nations.

"We have so many players coming to play in the World Cup from different backgrounds and this is such a special tournament we felt this sort of acknowledgement was important," he said.

"It will be 50 years since a war cry was used by the Kangaroos so that was symbolic for us. This is not specifically a war cry - but an acknowledgement."

Meninga said it was important players supported the concept.

"This would never work without the support of the players, and they have bought in," he said.

"Johnathan really drove the process and I think his passion for this acknowledgement is reflected in the words and the movement.

"It's also an important year in indigenous history which is another reason Johnathan was so passionate about making it happen."

Source: AAP